Opinion
2013-07-5
Rachelle MALBORY, Plaintiff, v. DAVID CHEVROLET BUICK PONTIAC, INC., Christen Smith, Defendants–Appellants, and Mattie Malbory, Defendant–Respondent.
Goldberg Segalla LLP, Buffalo (Arlow M. Linton of Counsel), for Defendants–Appellants. Gibson, McAskill & Crosby, LLP, Buffalo (Robert J. Mullins, II, of Counsel), for Defendant–Respondent.
Goldberg Segalla LLP, Buffalo (Arlow M. Linton of Counsel), for Defendants–Appellants. Gibson, McAskill & Crosby, LLP, Buffalo (Robert J. Mullins, II, of Counsel), for Defendant–Respondent.
PRESENT: SCUDDER, P.J., PERADOTTO, LINDLEY, AND SCONIERS, JJ.
MEMORANDUM:
Plaintiff commenced this action seeking damages for injuries she sustained while she was a passenger in a vehicle driven by her mother, Mattie Malbory (defendant). That vehicle was involved in a collision with a vehicle driven by defendant Christen Smith and owned by defendant David Chevrolet Buick Pontiac, Inc. (collectively, Smith defendants), who now appeal from an order granting defendant's motion for, inter alia, summary judgment dismissing the complaint and cross claims against her. We affirm. It is well settled that a driver who has the right-of-way is entitled to anticipate that drivers of other vehicles will obey the traffic laws requiring them to yield ( see Liskiewicz v. Hameister, 104 A.D.3d 1194, 1194–1195, 961 N.Y.S.2d 665). Here, it is undisputed that the vehicle driven by defendant was traveling at a lawful rate of speed and had the right-of-way, and the Smith defendants failed to raise an issue of fact whether defendant had an opportunity to avoid the accident ( see id. at 1195, 961 N.Y.S.2d 665).
It is hereby ORDERED that the order so appealed from is unanimously affirmed without costs.